Elgato first teased the 4K X and 4K Pro capture devices at TwitchCon 2023, catching the eyes of many gamers and tech enthusiasts. Since their official debut, these next-generation cards doubled down and have made a considerable splash in the streaming world. As content creation continues to grow in popularity, the ability to record gameplay and capture screens has become a vital tool. As such, while both the 4K X and 4K Pro build upon the legacy of the Elgato 4K60 and K60 Pro MK.2, they offer significant upgrades in quality for streamers and content creators alike.

Elgato's newest capture cards, released in February, have been generating buzz for their compatibility with the PS5 and Xbox Series X. This has unsurprisingly made them some of the most sought-after capture cards on the market in recent weeks. While Elgato's reputation for creating high-quality video game hardware over the years is contributing to its success, the 4K X and 4K Pro also speak for themselves.

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Elgato's Latest Capture Cards Are The New Gold Standard

The 4K X and 4K Pro Are Perfect For High-Resolution Recordings With Low Latency

Unlike some competitors that simply support consoles, Elgato has refined its new capture cards to offer features that actually push the boundaries of console capture capabilities. The 4K X and 4K Pro were specifically designed to eliminate the limited resolution and frame options that often come with the built-in console recording features.

While both devices are excellent choices for capturing high-quality footage, the best option depends on what the individual wants to prioritize. At its core, the 4K X is a plug-and-play external game capture card ideal for the Xbox Series X and PS5, though PC gamers can still get a passthrough of 1440p at 240Hz HDR. On the other hand, the 4K Pro is an internal capture card best suited to PC gamers, especially those with a dual PC setup.

Elgato Pushes the Boundaries of Console Capture Tech with 4K X and 4K Pro

For reference, the 4K X specs are capable of the following but aren't necessarily limited to them.

Elgato 4K X Specs

• HDMI 2.1
• 4K at 120 Hz SDR
• 144fps
• ALLM
• VRR
• HDR10 Capture
• USB 3.2 Gen 2 (10 GBps)
• Onboard Tonemapping

On the other hand, the 4K Pro excels in the following.

Elgato 4K Pro

• HDMI 2.1
• 1440p at 144Hz SDR
• 240fps
• ALLM
• VRR
• HDR10 Capture
• PCle 2.0 x4
• 8K60 HDR
• 4K60 HDR
• Onboard Tonemapping

Compared to previous Elgato models, the 4K X and 4K Pro are a significant leap forward. Not only do they allow for incredibly smooth gameplay and rich visuals, but they also boast future-proof technology with HDMI 2.1 support. This ensures these capture cards won't need an upgrade anytime soon, as HDMI 2.1 allows for capturing the latest advancements like 8K resolution at 120Hz, HDR, and High Frame Rate (HFR).

Boasting unmatched resolution among Elgato capture devices, the 4K X and 4K Pro are setting a new standard for the future of game capture technology. It's not always necessary to upgrade when new hardware comes out, especially for something like capture cards, but it's hard to ignore these changes. Both the 4K X and 4K Pro are upgrades that will deliver the best capture on the market right now. If nothing else, it's clear that Elgato's future in content creation technology is as promising as ever.

Elgato 4K X

The elgato 4K X capture card is the company's newest in a growing line of gameplay capture solutions, offering support for HDMI 2.1 from consoles or PC, as well as up to 4K144 HDR capture with variable refresh rate (VRR).

Max Passthrough Resolution

4K 144Hz

Max Capture Resolution

4K 144Hz

Interface

HDMI 2.1

OBS Compatible

Yes

Pros

• Future proof gameplay capture
• Support for VRR
• Slim design

$229.99 at Elgato